Agilent Technologies 7890A GC User guide

Agilent Technologies

Agilent 7890A GC

Safety Manual

27890A GC Safety Manual

Notices

No part of this manual may be reproduced in

any form or by any means (including elec-

tronic storage and retrieval or translation

into a foreign language) without prior agree-

ment and written consent from Agilent

Technologies, Inc. as governed by United

States and international copyright laws.

Manual Part Number

G3430-90013

Edition

First edition, February2007

Printed in USA

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

2850 Centerville Road

Wilmington, DE 19808-1610 USA

Warranty

The material contained in this docu-

ment is provided “as is,” and is sub-

ject to being changed, without notice,

in future editions. Further, to the max-

imum extent permitted by applicable

law, Agilent disclaims all warranties,

either express or implied, with regard

to this manual and any information

contained herein, including but not

limited to the implied warranties of

merchantability and fitness for a par-

ticular purpose. Agilent shall not be

liable for errors or for incidental or

consequential damages in connec-

tion with the furnishing, use, or per-

formance of this document or of any

information contained herein. Should

Agilent and the user have a separate

written agreement with warranty

terms covering the material in this

document that conflict with these

terms, the warranty terms in the sep-

arate agreement shall control.

Safety Notices

CAUTION

A CAUTION notice denotes a haz-

ard. It calls attention to an operat-

ing procedure, practice, or the like

that, if not correctly performed or

adhered to, could result in damage

to the product or loss of important

data. Do not proceed beyond a

CAUTION notice until the indicated

conditions are fully understood and

met.

WARNING

A WARNING notice denotes a

hazard. It calls attention to an

operating procedure, practice, or

the like that, if not correctly per-

formed or adhered to, could result

in personal injury or death. Do not

proceed beyond a WARNING

notice until the indicated condi-

tions are fully understood and

met.

Agilent 7890A GC

Safety Manual

Agilent Technologies

Introduction

Important Safety Warnings 4

Hydrogen Safety 7

Micro-Electron Capture Detector (µECD) 14

Fuses and batteries 17

Safety and Regulatory Certifications 18

Cleaning 22

Recycling the Product 22

47890A GC Safety Manual

Important Safety Warnings

Before moving on, there are several important safety notices that you should

always keep in mind when using the Agilent 7890A GC.

Many internal parts of the GC carry dangerous voltages

If the GC is connected to a power source, even if the power switch is off,

potentially dangerous voltages exist on:

•The wiring between the GC power cord and the AC power supply, the AC

power supply itself, and the wiring from the AC power supply to the power

switch.

With the power switch on, potentially dangerous voltages also exist on:

•All electronics boards in the instrument.

•The internal wires and cables connected to these boards.

•The wires for any heater (oven, detector, inlet, or valve box).

WARNING When handling/using chemicals for preparation or use within the GC, all applicable

local and national laboratory safety practices must be followed. This would include,

but is not limited to, correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), correct use

of storage vials, and correct handling of chemicals, as defined in the laboratory’s

internal safety analysis and standard operating procedures. Failure to adhere to

laboratory safety practices could lead to injury or death.

WARNING All these parts are shielded by covers. With the covers in place, it should be difficult

to accidentally make contact with dangerous voltages. Unless specifically

instructed to, never remove a cover unless the detector, inlet, or oven are turned off.

WARNING If the power cord insulation is frayed or worn, the cord must be replaced. Contact

your Agilent service representative.

7890A GC Safety Manual 5

Do not use an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with a GC

If the area where the GC is located suddenly looses power, an unsafe condition

can result if the GC remains powered on. Do not use the GC with a UPS.

Electrostatic discharge is a threat to GC electronics

The printed circuit (PC) boards in the GC can be damaged by electrostatic

discharge. Do not touch any of the boards unless it is absolutely necessary. If

you must handle them, wear a grounded wrist strap and take other antistatic

precautions. Wear a grounded wrist strap any time you must remove the GC

right side cover.

Many parts are dangerously hot

Many parts of the GC operate at temperatures high enough to cause serious

burns. These parts include but are not limited to:

•The inlets

•The oven and its contents

•The detectors

•The column nuts attaching the column to an inlet or detector

•The valve box

You should always cool these areas of the GC to room temperature before

working on them. They will cool faster if you first set the temperature of the

heated zone to room temperature. Turn the zone off after it has reached the

setpoint. If you must perform maintenance on hot parts, use a wrench and

wear thermally protective gloves. Whenever possible, cool the part of the

instrument that you will be maintaining before you begin working on it.

WARNING Be careful when working behind the instrument. During cool-down cycles, the GC

emits hot exhaust which can cause burns.

67890A GC Safety Manual

Oven thermal leaks

Do not allow wiring or temperature probes to pass through the oven door jam.

Agilent recommends using one of the access holes.

WARNING The insulation around the inlets, detectors, valve box, and the insulation cups is

made of refractory ceramic fibers. To avoid inhaling fiber particles, we recommend

the following safety procedures: ventilate your work area; wear long sleeves,

gloves, safety glasses, and a disposable dust/mist respirator; dispose of insulation

in a sealed plastic bag; wash your hands with mild soap and cold water after

handling the insulation.

WARNING Objects passing through the oven door seal can cause thermal leaks which create

hazardous hot spots which cause burns and melt equipment.

7890A GC Safety Manual 7

Hydrogen Safety

Hydrogen gas may be used as carrier gas, and/or as fuel for the FID, FPD, and

NPD. When mixed with air, hydrogen can form explosive mixtures.

Hydrogen is a commonly used GC carrier gas. Hydrogen is potentially

explosive and has other dangerous characteristics.

•Hydrogen is combustible over a wide range of concentrations. At

atmospheric pressure, hydrogen is combustible at concentrations from 4%

to 74.2% by volume.

•Hydrogen has the highest burning velocity of any gas.

•Hydrogen has a very low ignition energy.

•Hydrogen that is allowed to expand rapidly from high pressure into the

atmosphere can self-ignite due to an electrostatic spark.

•Hydrogen burns with a nonluminous flame which can be invisible under

bright light.

Hydrogen shutdown

Hydrogen gas may be used as a carrier or as fuel for some detectors. When

mixed with air, hydrogen can form explosive mixtures.

The GC monitors inlet and auxiliary gas streams. If a stream shuts down

because it is unable to reach its flow or pressure setpoint and if that stream is

configured to use hydrogen, the GC assumes that a leak has occurred and

declares a hydrogen safety shutdown. The effects are:

WARNING When using hydrogen (H2) as the carrier gas or fuel gas, be aware that hydrogen

gas can flow into the GC oven and create an explosion hazard. Therefore, be sure

that the supply is turned off until all connections are made and ensure that the inlet

and detector column fittings are either connected to a column or capped at all times

when hydrogen gas is supplied to the instrument.

Hydrogen is flammable. Leaks, when confined in an enclosed space, may create a

fire or explosion hazard. In any application using hydrogen, leak test all

connections, lines, and valves before operating the instrument. Always turn off the

hydrogen supply at its source before working on the instrument.

87890A GC Safety Manual

•The offending channel and any associated channels (such as septum purge)

are set off.

•The split valves in the split/splitless and PTV inlets open.

•The oven (heater and fan) turns off.

•The small heated zones are turned off.

•An alarm tone sounds.

To recover from this state, fix the cause of the shutdown (tank valve closed,

serious leak, others). Turn the instrument off, then back on.

WARNING The GC cannot always detect leaks in inlet and/or detector gas streams. For this

reason, it is vital that column fittings should always be either connected to a

column, or have a cap or plug installed. The H2streams must be configured for

hydrogen so that the GC is aware of hydrogen use.

7890A GC Safety Manual 9

Dangers unique to GC/MSD operation

Hydrogen presents a number of dangers. Some are general, others are unique

to GC or GC/MSD operation. Dangers include, but are not limited to:

•Combustion of leaking hydrogen.

•Combustion due to rapid expansion of hydrogen from a high-pressure

cylinder.

•Accumulation of hydrogen in the GC oven and subsequent combustion (see

your GC documentation and the label on the top edge of the GC oven door).

•Accumulation of hydrogen in the MSD and subsequent combustion.

Hydrogen accumulation in a GC/MSD

All users should be aware of the mechanisms by which hydrogen can

accumulate (Table 1) and know what precautions to take if they know or

suspect that hydrogen has accumulated. Note that these mechanisms apply to

all mass spectrometers, including the GC/MSD.

WARNING The GC/MSD cannot always detect leaks in inlet and/or detector gas streams. For

this reason, it is vital that column fittings should always be either connected to a

column, or have a cap or plug installed. The H2streams must be configured for

hydrogen so that the GC is aware of hydrogen use.

Tabl e 1 Potential hydrogen accumulation mechanisms in GC/MSD

Mechanism Results

Mass spectrometer turned off A mass spectrometer can be shut down

deliberately. It can also be shut down accidentally

by an internal or external failure. A mass

spectrometer shutdown does not shut off the flow

of carrier gas. As a result, hydrogen may slowly

accumulate in the mass spectrometer.

10 7890A GC Safety Manual

Mass spectrometer automated isolation

valves closed

Some mass spectrometers are equipped with

automated diffusion pump isolation valves. In these

instruments, deliberate operator action or various

failures can cause the isolation valves to close.

Isolation valve closure does not shut off the flow of

carrier gas. As a result, hydrogen may slowly

accumulate in the mass spectrometer.

Mass spectrometer manual isolation

valves closed

Some mass spectrometers are equipped with

manual diffusion pump isolation valves. In these

instruments, the operator can close the isolation

valves. Closing the isolation valves does not shut

off the flow of carrier gas. As a result, hydrogen

may slowly accumulate in the mass spectrometer.

GC off A GC can be shut down deliberately. It can also be

shut down accidentally by an internal or external

failure. Different GCs react in different ways. If a

7890A GC equipped with Electronic Pressure

Control (EPC) is shut off, the EPC stops the flow of

carrier gas. If the carrier flow is not under EPC

control, the flow increases to its maximum. This

flow may be more than some mass spectrometers

can pump away, resulting in the accumulation of

hydrogen in the mass spectrometer. If the mass

spectrometer is shut off at the same time, the

accumulation can be fairly rapid.

Power failure If the power fails, both the GC and mass

spectrometer shut down. The carrier gas, however,

is not necessarily shut down. As described

previously, in some GCs a power failure may cause

the carrier gas flow to be set to maximum. As a

result, hydrogen may accumulate in the mass

spectrometer.

Tabl e 1 Potential hydrogen accumulation mechanisms in GC/MSD (continued)

Mechanism Results

Table of contents

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